Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what income was received by Inverness Airport in each year since 1997, broken down by the source of the income.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure of Inverness Airport was in each year since 1997, broken down by category of expenditure.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide profit and loss accounts for each of the airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in each year since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in the Annual Reports and Accounts for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd , copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Bib. numbers are as follows:

  


1996-97


19892




1997-98


20023




1998-99


3976




1999-2000


7211




2000-01


15017

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary and remuneration was of each board member of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in each year since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: The salaries of the Chairman and members of the board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd are as follows:

  


 


1996-97


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02




Chairman (part-time)


£17,098


£17,611


£17,963


£18,188


£18,679


£19,240




Managing Director (full-time)


£57,478


£60,000


£61,200


£61,965


£63,638


£65,548




Non-Executive Board Members (part-time)


£5,459


£5,623


£5,735


£5,807


£5,964


£6,143




  Details of remuneration are not held centrally.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), what matters were discussed and when it next intends to meet representatives of HIAL.

Lewis Macdonald: Ministers last met the management of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) on 23 January 2002, when a variety of issues were discussed. Scottish Executive officials meet HIAL's management regularly to discuss financial and operational matters, and are represented at board meetings through the presence of an assessor. The last meeting was held on 8 March; and the last meeting between the Executive and senior HIAL staff was held on 13 March 2002.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has held with Her Majesty's Government regarding the possibility of implementing a public service order for air links to and from Inverness airport, when any such meetings took place and with whom.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers and officials meet their counterparts at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, as well as Scotland Office ministers, on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of matters. This has included the pursuit of the case for the imposition of a Public Service Obligation, and the associated ring-fencing of slots, on the Inverness to Gatwick route.

Archaeology

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy on archaeology is.

Dr Elaine Murray: It is the policy of the Scottish Executive to encourage the preservation of archaeological sites wherever possible through the powers of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, backed up by National Planning Policy Guideline 5 on archaeology and planning and the associated Planning Advice Note 42, and through other National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs), particularly NPPG 18 on planning and the historic environment.

  Where preservation proves impossible in the face of threats from development, the guidance given to local authorities is that the developer should be made to ensure satisfactory excavation of the remains and publication of the excavations. Where it is not feasible to preserve an archaeological site in the face of threats from natural agencies it is our policy, wherever possible, to encourage and support excavation and reporting of excavation of the remains before they are destroyed.

  More generally it is our policy to encourage provision of information, advice, guidance, education and training to help preserve archaeology.

Archaeology

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have an archaeology service.

Dr Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to answer. His response is as follows:

  Most of Scotland's local authorities either maintain, or have access to, a professional archaeology service on the lines defined in National Planning Policy Guideline 5 on archaeology and planning. The four current exceptions are East Dunbartonshire, City of Dundee, West Lothian and Midlothian. The last-named is actively pursuing the acquisition of relevant data and is negotiating access to professional advice.

Asylum Seekers

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20624 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 December 2001, what recourse an unaccompanied asylum seeking child has to ensure that he/she is given their full rights under a local authority's duty of care under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 where there is an absence of official documentation to prove the child's identity.

Cathy Jamieson: The duty on local authorities to provide assistance to a child, does not depend on the identity of the child. We do not expect the absence of official documentation to prove a child's identity, to affect the child's access to local authority assistance.

Childcare

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22124 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 February 2002, what proportion of staff currently employed in council-managed homes for children hold no formal qualifications, and, given that the training of staff working in residential childcare is a priority for development, what target has it set for such staff to secure such qualifications in the future.

Cathy Jamieson: Fifty-two per cent of staff in local authority homes hold no relevant formal qualification. For all homes, including those run by voluntary or private organisations, 60% of staff have no relevant formal qualification.

  Targets were set in 1993 following a review of Residential Child Care, Another Kind of Home.

  These were:

  1. "Local authorities and independent organisations should aim to achieve a position in which 30% of all residential child care staff, and 90% of all senior residential child care staff, hold a Diploma in Social Work or equivalent."

  At the end of 2001 26% of all staff, and 40% of senior staff, had a Diploma or equivalent.

  2. "Local authorities and independent organisations should aim to achieve a position, in which 60% of residential child care staff are assessed as competent at HNC/SVQ level 3."

  At the end of 2001 40% of all staff were assessed as competent at HNC/SVQ level.

  Progress to achieve these targets was very slow and that is why, in 1999, the Executive set up the Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care. They have already established new training at all levels and conducted the first comprehensive qualification audit of residential child care in Scotland.

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given in the review of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to changes in the law relating to planning.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, does not include provisions relating to land use planning.

  However, the Executive is currently conducting a review of the legislative and administrative arrangements for strategic planning. This review is likely to have implications for the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and related secondary legislation.

  The Executive is also engaged in a consultation exercise on measures to improve public involvement in the planning system. The closing date for comments has been extended to 21 April, and the consultation paper, Getting Involved in Planning, can be viewed on the Executive's website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/planning.

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidences of vandalism were reported to police in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months.

Mr Jim Wallace: The requested information is not held centrally. The available information is given in the table. This relates to crimes recorded by the police for each quarter of 2000 for North Lanarkshire Council area. Data for the year 2001 is not yet available.

  Crimes of "Vandalism, malicious damage and malicious mischief" recorded by the police in North Lanarkshire, 2000

  


Period


Crimes




Quarter 1 Jan - March


1,101




Quarter 2 April - June


972




Quarter 3 July - Sept


983




Quarter 4 Oct - Dec


1,672




Total for 2000


4,728

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests were made for offences of vandalism in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons arrested were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The requested information is not held centrally.

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions were instigated for offences of vandalism in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons prosecuted were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information held centrally on persons prosecuted cannot be broken down by parliamentary constituency. The available information relates to persons proceeded against by court and is given in the table. Data for the year 2001 are not yet available.

  Persons proceeded against where the main offence was vandalism, Airdrie Sheriff Court and North Lanarkshire District Court, 2000

  


Age


Month of sentence or acquittal 2000




Jan


Feb


March


April


May


June


July


Aug


Sept


Oct


Nov


Dec


Total




Under 21


7


17


5


3


10


5


8


8


7


7


7


4


88




21 & Over


17


10


10


14


10


15


6


10


12


9


16


14


143




Total


24


27


15


17


20


20


14


18


19


16


23


18


231

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cautions were given for offences of vandalism in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons cautioned were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available. Scotland does not have a system of formal police cautions, as used by police forces in England and Wales.

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests were made in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency for drug-related offences in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons arrested were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally. The available information is given in the following table. This relates to crimes recorded by the police for each quarter of 2000 for North Lanarkshire Council area. Data for the year 2001 is not yet available.

  Drugs Crimes Recorded by the Police in North Lanarkshire, 2000:

  


Period


Crimes




Quarter 1 Jan - March


426




Quarter 2 April - June


482




Quarter 3 July - Sept


449




Quarter 4 Oct - Dec


460




Total for 2000


1,817

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions were instigated for drug-related offences in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons prosecuted were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information held centrally on persons prosecuted, cannot be broken down by parliamentary constituency. The available information relates to persons proceeded against by court and is given in the following table. The statistics identify persons proceeded against where the main offence involved the illegal importation, cultivation, supply or possession of drugs. Other offences may be drug-related, such as those committed to fund a drug habit, but these cannot be separately identified within the statistics held centrally. Data for the year 2001 are not yet available.

  Persons proceeded against where the main offence was a drugs offence, Airdrie Sheriff Court and North Lanarkshire District Court, 2000:

  


Age


Month of sentence or acquittal in 2000




Jan


Feb


Mar


April


May


June


July


Aug


Sept


Oct


Nov


Dec


Total




Under 21


7


18


11


8


9


4


8


6


8


13


9


2


103




21 & Over


15


41


34


19


15


8


15


27


19


23


19


24


259




Total


22


59


45


27


24


12


23


33


27


36


28


26


362

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cautions were given for drug-related offences in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons cautioned were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available. Scotland does not have a system of formal police cautions, as used by police forces in England and Wales

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests were made in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency for drink-related offences in each of the past 12 months, broken down by whether the persons arrested were juvenile or adult.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not collected centrally. The information in the following table relates to crimes recorded by the police for each quarter of 2000 for North Lanarkshire Council area. Data for the year 2001 is not yet available.

  "Drink Related" Crimes and Offences Recorded by the Police in North Lanarkshire, 2000:

  


Crime/offence


Quarter 1 Jan - March


Quarter 2 April - June


Quarter 3 July - Sept


Quarter 4 Oct - Dec


Total for 2000




Culpable homicide - Death by careless driving when under 
  the influence of drink or drugs


0


0


0


0


0




Drunkenness


144


171


183


180


678




Offences by licensed persons


2


2


5


1


10




Other offences against liquor licensing laws


5


23


1


2


31




Consumption of alcohol in designated places


219


289


231


208


947




Drunk driving etc


165


190


174


208


737




Total


535


675


594


599


2,403

Crime

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in each of the past 12 months police were required to attend a young persons' residential care facility in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency (a) to conduct inquiries pertaining to persons reported missing by staff and (b) in the course of criminal investigations.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where, when and for how long the post of Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was advertised.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were for the post of Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rules and procedures were followed for the interview, selection and appointment of the Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Colin Boyd QC: The post was filled by assignment of a senior civil servant, already experienced in operating at this level, because of the need to strengthen the top management of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and to do so without delay.

Culture

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have an arts or cultural strategy.

Dr Elaine Murray: No records are held centrally. Cultural responsibilities are discretionary and local authorities approach them in different ways. The Executive is aware that a number of authorities have a range of strategies dealing with cultural aspects, including arts and sports strategies. Cultural matters also feature in other strategies such as community plans. The Executive is preparing guidance in consultation with COSLA to assist local authorities to develop strategies in the area of culture.

Digital Hearing Aids

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22850 by Mary Mulligan on 21 February 2002, whether the statement by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people that "only 1.4% of people in Scotland who need a hearing aid have access to free digital aids on the NHS" is correct and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Digital hearing aids are amongst a wide range of hearing aids available on the central contract, negotiated for NHSScotland. The figure quoted by Royal National Institute for Deaf people relates to the number of digital hearing aids, that were actually drawn off the contract during a specific period, expressed as a percentage of the total number of hearing aids drawn off the contract.

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22823 on 21 February 2002, which gives details of the Good Practice Guidance, issued by the Executive on Adult Hearing and Fitting Services and provides advice on circumstances in which digital hearing aids should be provided by NHSScotland. The decision on who should be given a digital aid, is a matter for the clinician involved.

Digital Hearing Aids

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22850 by Mary Mulligan on 21 February 2002, what contact it has had with the Royal National Institute for Deaf people since the launch of the institute's campaign to have individual MSPs lobbied to write to the Deputy Health Minister with regard to the provision of digital hearing aid provision in Scotland compared with provision in England and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A representative from the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) was invited to join the wide-ranging review of audiology services, commissioned by the Executive, because of the expertise and experience RNID could bring to the review. The Executive therefore has regular contact with RNID.

  The audit element of the review has been constructed to incorporate the information gathered by the RNID research report Audiology in Scotland 2001, released on 6 February. The RNID information will be examined and analysed by the review group, to help formulate recommendations to address areas of concern.

Drug Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to launch its Drugs Communications Strategy.

Dr Richard Simpson: I am pleased to announce that the Deputy First Minister and I will launch the strategy later this morning.

  Our core message is that all drugs can be dangerous. Through mass media campaigns, a new information line and website, all using the "Know the Score" logo, we aim to raise awareness among the public of the risks which drugs pose, to provide facts about drugs and to provide details of where help and advice can be obtained across Scotland. We are already working with Drug Action Teams to develop local communications strategies tailored to meet local needs and priorities. Part of this work is improving the quality and availability of drugs information materials.

  Copies of the information pack, which will be distributed to the media later today, are available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it released its press statement on Moving On - From School to College ; whether this was issued under embargo and, if so, until what time; when the report itself was made available to journalists; whether any official briefing on the report or its subject area took place and why the document was not available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre until approximately 1.00 pm on 19 February 2002, despite the electronic media having carried stories of the reports content from early that morning.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Douglas Osler, Chief Executive of HM Inspectorate of Education, to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Inspectorate of Education issued its press statement on Moving On - From School To College at 10:00 on 19 February 2002. A copy of the report was made available in advance to one journalist, on the understanding that nothing would be published until later in the week. The journalist complied with this understanding. Informal briefings on the subject area were provided in advance to significant organisations in the sector. One of these organisations issued its own press statement, welcoming the report, under embargo until 19 February, but giving no specified time on that date. This party's assumption that this would be acceptable was a misunderstanding of HM Inspectorate's practice in issuing its reports.

  An administrative error within HM Inspectorate resulted in the copies for the Parliament's Reference Centre being placed on their standard distribution list, rather than the advanced distribution list. This error was made known to HM Inspectorate late in the morning of 19 February and copies were dispatched as soon as feasible by courier, arriving at the Parliament at 12:40.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education has any role in the formulation of educational policy.

Cathy Jamieson: HM Inspectorate of Education's role is to promote improvements in standards, quality and attainment in Scottish education through first-hand, independent evaluation. As part of that role, it has a remit to give professional advice to the Scottish Executive and others, as detailed in its published Framework Document.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications and experience are required of members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education and, in particular, what (a) higher education qualifications and (b) practical experience in Scottish schools are required.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Douglas Osler, Chief Executive of HM Inspectorate of Education, to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Inspectors are required to have: a relevant degree or equivalent and an appropriate professional qualification; significant and successful experience of teaching in schools, further education or community learning; proven success in one or more promoted posts within education or in a relevant post of responsibility in further education or community learning; and the ability to work effectively, both independently and as a member of a team.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimates are of any skill shortages in the construction, oil and gas and electronics industries.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The relevant employer-led National Training Organisations (NTOs) provide estimates of skill shortages in the construction, oil and gas, and electronics industries. The provision of labour market information is a key function of NTOs, a role that will be taken on by the new Sector Skills Councils, when they replace NTOs from April 2002.

  The Future Skills Scotland unit has recently commissioned the first-ever Scottish Employers Skill Survey, the fieldwork for which will take place during April/May 2002. The results of this survey should be available by late summer and will complement the existing labour market information in these sectors.

Enterprise

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many oil and gas fields, and which ones, are currently under consideration for development by the Progressing Partnership Group of Pilot.

Lewis Macdonald: The Progressing Partnership Working Group of PILOT is not directly responsible for development of particular fields, as that is the responsibility of the operators themselves; however its work means that it liaises closely with these operators. In addition, the group has identified an estimated 120 fallow discoveries and 160 fallow blocks on the UKCS, and plans to publish details of these assets on the LIFT (Licence Information for Trading) website in due course.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences for dichlorvos issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are still in operation and what remaining quantity of the chemical these licences account for.

Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has made of the cost to farmers as a result of nitrate vulnerable zone designation in north-east Scotland.

Ross Finnie: A full draft Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is currently under preparation and will consider the impact, in terms of costs and benefits, of proposals for action programme management measures for the new nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) proposed in the consultation paper Protection of Scotland's Water Environment (Bib. number 18665). This includes proposals for NVZs in north-east Scotland.

  A further consultation paper on proposals for action programmes for NVZs including a summary of the draft RIA will be released shortly. Arrangements will be made for copies to go directly to farmers in the proposed NVZs. The full draft RIA will be available from the Scottish Executive website and in hard copy form for those who want it.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has received regarding nitrate vulnerable zone status from individuals and organisations in north-east Scotland.

Ross Finnie: To date the department has received 12 responses from individuals and organisations in the north-east of Scotland to the consultation document Protection of Scotland's Water Environment (Bib. number 18665) released on 14 January. There have been a further two requests for more information and 89 requests for the CD-ROM action programme guidance. I personally have received 4 pieces of correspondence about the proposals for new nitrate vulnerable zones in the north-east.

  The consultation period ends on 15 April.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out for or on behalf of its Environment and Rural Affairs Department into the natural production of nitrates on set-aside land and what the findings of any such research were.

Ross Finnie: Research was commissioned by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) to quantify the effect of green cover strategies for non-rotational set-aside on losses of nitrogen and phosphorus to watercourses. The research was completed by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) in March 1998. Results from this study show that when set-aside land is sown with a dense green cover with a high content of ryegrass, it has the potential of minimising nitrate leaching to watercourses. If a cover crop is not established on the set-aside land and there is subsequent late ploughing, this results in a high loss of nitrate from agricultural land to water courses.

  The benefits of set-aside in minimising nitrate losses were also confirmed by earlier work commissioned from the SAC by the department (in 1993) which measured and modelled the nitrogen cycle in soils under various agricultural systems including set-aside over three to four years.

  The research and its conclusions have been taken into account by SAC in preparation of the draft Regulatory Impact Assessment commissioned by SEERAD for the proposed nitrate vulnerable zone action programmes.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department of the impact of forestry on nitrate levels in north-east Scotland when considering nitrate vulnerable zone status.

Ross Finnie: Poor forestry practices can lead to nitrate pollution and, although the EC Nitrates Directive does not apply to forests, the new revision of the Forestry Commission's Forests and Water Guidelines takes account of the directive, and recommends that foresters observe the restrictions placed on agriculture.

  The evidence from Scottish Environment Protection Agency sampling of surface waters in upland catchments, where forestry is prevalent, indicates low nitrate levels and that adherence to the guidelines is preventing pollution.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information has been gathered by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department on the rate of transfer of nitrates from groundwater to watercourses in north-east Scotland.

Ross Finnie: No specific information has been gathered by the department on this matter. General advice on the exchange of water between groundwaters and watercourses has been obtained by the department from the British Geological Survey as part of its report Groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones for Scotland (Bib. number 18567). Groundwater is, of course, recharged with water from the soil and watercourses. In Scotland, however, rainfall is generally high and therefore main, trunk sections of rivers tend not to lose water to aquifers, but rather gain in volume through groundwater discharges along their length. The rate of this "baseflow" movement varies with a number of factors, including permeability of the aquifer. During periods of flood, river water can recharge river gravels, but only as temporary storage and within months the water generally returns to the river.

Environment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of application of nitrate fertilisers was in (a) the former Grampian region and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the last seven years.

Ross Finnie: The information requested is given in the following table:

  

 

1994


1995


1996


1997


1998


1999


2000




Scotland


Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)




All Tillage


128


140


122


134


131


126


135




All Grass


111


114


100


124


119


117


110




All Crops and Grass


118


124


108


128


124


121


118




North East (Aberdeenshire & Moray)


Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)




All Tillage


132


122


112


61


104


107


128




All Grass


117


127


131


75


97


123


118




All Crops and Grass


123


125


121


67


100


114


123




  Source: British Survey of Fertiliser Practice

  Annual changes in relative cropping areas, as well as any change in fertiliser practice for individual crops, may affect nutrient application rates when aggregated across the main crop groupings such as all tillage, all grass and crops and grass.

  Unusual seasonal weather can also influence fertiliser usage in some years.

  The unusually low overall nitrogen application rates for north east Scotland in 1997 is explained by the fact that there were very few fields sampled in that area that year (only 141 fields compared with 550 fields in the 2000 sample). Moreover, the fields that were sampled in the north east in 1997 predominantly grew spring barley and root crops for stockfeed, where nitrogen application rates are typically low. The 2000 sample on the other hand included fields growing winter wheat, winter barley and winter oilseed rape, where application rates are very much higher. The small number of fields surveyed and the small number of types of crop represented in 1997 means that the estimates for the north east for the overall "all grass" and "all tillage" nitrogen application rates are not very robust and will have associated large standard errors.

Film Industry

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can give to Scottish filmmakers wanting to use the former John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde as a location for films or a film studio.

Dr Elaine Murray: Scottish Screen is working with the property managers to market the site as a production base for film and television companies. One company is currently using it for their production offices while filming on location.

Fisheries

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which chemicals the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has licensed for use on fish farms and what annual amount of each of them is allowed to be discharged.

Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.

Funding Awards

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants for funding from (a) the New Futures Fund, (b) the New Opportunities Fund, (c) other National Lottery funds and (d) the Scottish University for Industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish University for Industry administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. CMF applicants who are unsuccessful are advised in writing and given specific reasons. The scheme, which closed to new applicants last October, ends on 31 March 2002 and all remaining unsuccessful applicants will be given feedback by mid-April.

  The New Futures Fund is managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise and feedback to unsuccessful applicants is an operational matter for them. I understand, however, that feedback will be given on request.

  Decisions on funding from the New Opportunity Fund and the National Lottery Fund are a matter for these organisations. I have asked them to write to you directly.

Funding Awards

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to ensure transparency of criteria used for assessing applications for funding from the New Futures Fund, the New Opportunities Fund, other National Lottery funds and the Scottish University for Industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. SUfI has made known the criteria used for assessing CMF in a variety of ways, including through promotional literature for the scheme, their website, speeches at public events, direct contact with applicants and in response to written/telephone enquiries.

  The assessment of bids for funding from the New Futures Fund, New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Funds are operational matters for the bodies concerned.

Funding Awards

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any targets are set in order to ensure that a diversity of organisations are awarded funding from (a) the New Futures Fund, (b) the New Opportunities Fund, (c) other National Lottery funds and (d) the Scottish University for Industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. There are no specific targets aimed at ensuring a diversity of organisations receive CMF. Individual applications are judged on their own merits in relation to the overall objectives of the scheme; these include geographic coverage, provision in socially excluded areas and addressing sectoral or other gaps. The scheme is promoted widely to a variety of organisations, including intermediaries, and all promotional literature makes it clear that any organisation is eligible to apply.

  The criteria for the selection of projects to be funded by the New Futures Fund are a matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise within the broad guidelines set out by the Scottish Executive.

  With regard to projects funded through the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery these are matters for the organisations concerned.

Funding Awards

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what liaison there is between the New Futures Fund, the New Opportunities Fund, other National Lottery funds and the Scottish University for Industry in order to ensure that any projects in receipt of funding from one of these bodies but which are dependent on successful bids for funding from any of the other bodies are able to follow this process through successfully.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. SUfI and New Opportunities Fund (who offer funding to meet revenue costs) share information on applicants who have been offered/are being considered for funding. In addition, CMF applicants are asked to provide details of all other project funding that has been applied for or approved, enabling SUfI to build an overall picture of the funding position for every project.

  I have asked the organisations responsible for approving funding for the New Futures Fund and The National Lottery to write to you directly.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to halt further genetically modified crop trials for oilseed rape and beet given the recent research, as reported in The Times on 17 February 2002, regarding damage to the environment.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23492 on 7 March 2002.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-17830 and S1W-19099 by Susan Deacon on 27 September and 12 November 2001, how many patients are now in receipt of equipment for the treatment of sleep apnoea.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are at present 2,355 patients in Scotland receiving Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy, for sleep apnoea.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17093 by Susan Deacon on 15 August 2001, what the outcome has been of the review of the sleep apnoea service provided by the Sleep Centre in Edinburgh.

Malcolm Chisholm: The outcome of the review was an agreement by NHS Lothian to fund services for Lothian patients in 2001-02 at the same level as applied in 2000-01. NHS Lothian agreed to consider future funding levels for sleep disorder services, in the context of strategic and financial planning for 2002-03. The outcome of the review in respect of other NHS boards which send patients to the Sleep Centre, was that additional funding would be provided in 2001-02, with future funding levels being reviewed in the context of planning for 2002-03.

  Information about planned funding levels for 2002-03 is not yet available.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22295 by Malcolm Chisholm on 7 February 2002, how many of the 88 young people on the waiting list of the Young People's Unit are from the Scottish Borders.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are no patients from the Borders on the waiting list for the Young People's Unit.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22295 by Malcolm Chisholm on 7 February 2002, how many of the 88 young people on the waiting list of the Young People's Unit are from East Lothian.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are nine patients on the waiting list for the Young People's Unit, who are registered with East Lothian general practitioners.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients who would benefit from linear accelerators to treat tumours will have access to this treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS doctors are responsible for ensuring appropriate clinical treatment in individual cases.

  Radiotherapy, which is delivered by linear accelerators, is provided from all five cancer centres in Scotland, in Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when permission will be given for tonsillectomies to be resumed.

Malcolm Chisholm: Routine tonsil and adenoid surgery, performed with single-use instruments, re-commenced with effect from 11 March 2002.

Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the investigation into the use of equipment used in tonsillectomies will be completed.

Malcolm Chisholm: An audit of all tonsil and adenoid surgery, performed with single-use instruments since July 2001, was completed recently. Routine tonsil and adenoid surgery recommenced with effect from 11 March 2002 and a prospective audit of surgery will be undertaken from that date.

Justice

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to respond to the Scottish Law Commission's report on the age of criminal responsibility.

Mr Jim Wallace: As the First Minister said on 17 January we are considering the Scottish Law Commission's Report in the context of our overall approach to youth crime. As part of this consideration we intend to consult on the commission's proposals and will publish a consultation paper over the summer.

Libraries

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the library purchase and usage figures as detailed in the Accounts Commission Performance Audit Performance Indicators 2000/2001- Leisure and Library Services - Comparing the Performance of Scottish Councils .

Dr Elaine Murray: Statutory responsibility for local libraries lies with local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for determining the level of resources allocated for the library service, which they provide for the residents of their area. This includes resources for the purchasing of books.

Meat Industry

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much illegally imported meat was seized at ports and airports in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie: Figures on Scottish seizures are only available for the last three financial years and are as follows:

  


 


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02
(to date)




Total seized


47 kilos


92 kilos


94 kilos

Natural Heritage

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or any other body which has responsibility for natural heritage issues has any plans to hold an independent enquiry into marine conditions in the Loch na Keal area on the Isle of Mull.

Allan Wilson: We are not aware of any plans to hold such an inquiry.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the New Deal: Next Phase initiative in respect of each new deal programme in Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland, it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  The Green Paper, Towards Full Employment in a Modern Society, was published in March 2001. It set out a series of changes and initiatives within the New Deal programme - "New Deal: Next Phase" - designed to tackle harder to help clients, as unemployment rates fall, and to focus on the needs of employers in sectors where there are employment opportunities. These initiatives are funded from the overall New Deal budget.

New Deal

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets and timescales have been set for the delivery of the New Deal: Next Phase initiative in each new deal programme in Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  The key developments in Scotland, under New Deal: Next Phase, are as follows:

  Local Account Managers have been appointed in all Employment Service Districts in Scotland, to secure engagement with employers. Business sector initiatives are being developed, to offer opportunities to New Deal clients and meet the skill needs of employers.

  Targeted assistance is being developed for people with drug problems. Five "Progress2work" pathfinders are in place in Glasgow North; Glasgow South; Tayside; Fife; and Dumbarton, Argyll and Bute. These will be extended to the rest of the country progressively by 2003.

  There will be two Step-UP pilots in Scotland in East Ayrshire and Dundee, to provide jobs for people who have not succeeded in finding employment after New Deal. These will provide stepping-stones to work through guaranteed jobs.

  There will be two tailored pathway pilots in Scotland, in Glasgow and Dumfries and Galloway, to provide a more flexible approach to New Deal for Young People options. These will allow personal advisers to combine elements of the four options, to suit the needs of individuals.

  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will publish targets for Jobcentre Plus shortly.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) were in existence in May 1999; how many will be in existence by May 2002; how many Chief Executives are employed by NDPBs and how many of them the Executive pays for; how much each Chief Executive was paid in 1999-2000, and how much each Chief Executive is paid in the current financial year.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive carried out a fundamental review of the public bodies it sponsors in 2001. Details of the 183 bodies then in existence, together with recommendations about the method and timetable for abolition or further review of 113 of them were published in Public Bodies: Proposals for Change, in June 2001, this can be found at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/government/pbreview.pdf. The number of public bodies sponsored by the Scottish Executive as at 12 March 2002 is 153.

  Comprehensive information about Non-Departmental Public Bodies, including details of Chief Executive salaries, is collected and published annually in the publication Public Bodies. Copies of the 2001 version, together with earlier editions, are available from the Cabinet Office website at:

  www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango. Public Bodies 2002, which will include financial information in respect of the 2001-02 financial year, is expected to be published later this year.

Nuclear Submarines

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding the environmental impact of decommissioning nuclear submarines in the Aultbea area.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has had no recent discussions with the UK Government on this issue, as no sites have been selected for the decommissioning of nuclear submarines. I understand that, in its announcement on the publication of the final report of the Project ISOLUS (Interim Storage of Laid Up Submarines) Front End Consultation, the Ministry of Defence stated that it will not be until industry comes forward with proposals, that potential sites will begin to emerge.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21010 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, how it will assist the Health and Safety Executive's follow-up study into individual worker histories at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive will assist the Health and Safety Executive with the follow-up study at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock in any appropriate and possible way. For example, it has been agreed that the Scottish Executive will help to prepare the protocol for the study.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21012 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, whether there has been any increase in the workload of local GPs and other health service professionals following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock .

Malcolm Chisholm: Enquiries of the local NHS board indicate that there has been no significant increase in the workload of GPs or other health service professionals since publication of the report.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21013 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, what information it has received on progress made in encouraging semiconductor companies to carry out studies of ill health in their workforces with a view to establishing whether there is any causal link between the working environment and cancer rates.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Health and Safety Executive advise that discussions have been initiated with other companies within the industry, seeking their individual agreement to become involved in a wider study of the type carried out at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.

Pre-School Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of full-time places for four-year-olds at nursery school will be cut in order to meet the commitment to extend a guaranteed part-time place to all three-year-olds whose parents wish such a place by 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: From April 2002 local authorities will have a duty, under the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, to provide a funded quality part-time education place, of at least 412.5 hours per session, for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents wish it. We expect authorities to take account of the need and preferences of children and their parents when planning the delivery of pre-school education.

Public Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the use of solar power for bus stops.

Ross Finnie: We have no such plans.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when integrated public transport information for the whole of Scotland will be available online.

Lewis Macdonald: Traveline Scotland aim to extend their existing telephone service offering integrated public transport information for the whole of Scotland to include delivery through the Internet by 31 December 2002. This will make integrated information about all modes of public transport across Scotland available 24 hours per day, seven days per week and will help to encourage travellers to make greater use of public transport.

Public Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning will publish her transport strategy.

Lewis Macdonald: The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning will publish the Transport Delivery Report shortly.

Public Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed west Edinburgh tram system will be funded by a Private Finance Initiative.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is working with City of Edinburgh Council to examine all options for how best to finance this project.

Public Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed West Edinburgh tram system will be complementary to the West Edinburgh Busways scheme.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive expects City of Edinburgh Council to ensure that the two projects complement each other.

Public Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to contribute additional funding for the west Edinburgh tram system beyond the £5 million it is considering contributing for preparatory work.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is working with City of Edinburgh Council, to examine all options for how best to finance this project beyond our initial commitment, in principle, to fund further appraisal work and work to obtain Parliamentary powers for the project.

Roads

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22622 by Lewis Macdonald on 15 February 2002, what its estimate is of the earliest timescale under which the Haddington to Dunbar expressway will be completed, taking into account any statutory procedures.

Lewis Macdonald: On current predictions, the earliest date on which the new road will open to traffic is Christmas 2003.

Rural Stewardship Scheme

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful awards made under the Rural Stewardship Scheme were to farmers and crofters with IACS holdings, not including common grazings, of under 10 hectares.

Ross Finnie: Thirty-three awards made under the Rural Stewardship Scheme were to farmers and crofters with an IACS holding, not including common grazings, of 10 hectares or below in area.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have been built incorporating solar panels.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental management criteria have been built into the evaluation process through which proposals from local authorities under the school modernisation Public/Private Partnership programme will be considered.

Nicol Stephen: The assessment criteria under which local authority bids for revenue support for school Public/Private Partnership projects are being considered are set out in Scottish Executive Education Department circular 8/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The assessment process is concerned with the broad principles appropriate at the Outline Business Case stage.

Scottish Executive Publications

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will lodge all publications and reports on an embargoed basis with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre to ensure they are available to members simultaneously with any press statement it issues, and what its reasons are for the position on this matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is not the Scottish Executive's normal practice to issue publications and reports on an embargoed basis. Publications are available on the internet at the time of launch, as electronic publishing is the quickest way of making information available simultaneously, with any press statement or announcement. Copies of reports are delivered to the Parliament's Reference Centre at the time of publication, although there may be a slight time delay in their actual availability in the centre.

Scottish Executive Publications

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which publications or reports have been released to journalists prior to being lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre in each of the past twelve months, and what the reasons were in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: In general the Scottish Executive does not issue in advance to journalists, embargoed copies of policy documents, which are to be the subject of a statement to Parliament. Embargoed copies of publications are only normally issued to journalists, where there is an advance briefing on technical or analytical issues.

Scottish Executive Publications

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the publication, including the design, photocopying, printing, distribution and launch, of Scotland's Economic Future .

Ms Wendy Alexander: The total publication costs of the Scotland's Economic Future leaflet were approximately £8,960. The launch took place at "Our Enterprise Strategy" conference held on 12 February, to review progress one year on after the publication of SSS: A strategy for the Enterprise networks . The event was co hosted by the Executive and the Enterprise networks and conference costs were met jointly by the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

Social Economy

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21955 by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002, what the timetable is for the publication of the report on the review of the social economy and for consideration of the report's recommendations.

Iain Gray: I have now received a draft of the social economy review undertaken by Mr Stephen Maxwell, Assistant Director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. I shall be discussing Mr Maxwell's draft with him and will arrange for publication of the report for consultation in due course.

Social Work

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for social workers (a) in Glasgow and (b) across Scotland as a whole.

Cathy Jamieson: The Chief Social Work Inspector received a report from the City of Glasgow on 21 February 2002, that there were 39 social worker vacancies in Glasgow.

  There are no current figures held centrally for social worker vacancies across Scotland.

Sport

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration  sportscotland has given to the claims made by Arnold Beckett, formerly employed as senior drugs tester by the International Olympic Committee, that the banned substance found in skier Alain Baxter's drug test at the Winter Olympic Games is not a performance enhancing drug and, as such, should not constitute grounds for his being banned from his sport or being stripped of his Olympic bronze medal and what representations it and sportscotland plan to make to the British Olympic Association on this matter.

Dr Elaine Murray: It is UK Sport, not the home country sports council, who is responsible for providing advice to ministers on policy in relation to drug taking in sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decides which substances should be banned from Olympic competitions; the British Olympic Association does not have a role. The case involving Alain Baxter is still being considered by the IOC in accordance with its rules and procedures and it would be inappropriate and premature for any representations to be made by the Executive or  sportscotland on these matters.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which roads are part of the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T); whether the A82 is included; whether the trans-European character of this route renders it eligible for EU funding and, if so, what maximum funding can be sought, and whether it is considering making an application for such funding and, if so, what stage its consideration has reached.

Lewis Macdonald: The Trans-European Transport Network aims to ensure the sustainable mobility of persons and goods across the EU. It includes all transport links within the EU that are considered to be of common interest, including the Scottish motorway network and a number of trunk roads, including the A82 between Glasgow and Invergarry. The EU may contribute up to 10% of the project cost of schemes on these routes. The Executive currently has no plans to make an application for Trans-European Network support, for any scheme on the A82.

Waste Management

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether putrescible waste can be imported from Northern Ireland to be disposed of in Scottish landfill sites; if so, under what legislative powers and whether it will outline the procedures surrounding such importations regarding matters such as licence applications, local consultation and grants available.

Ross Finnie: The Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations prohibit imports and exports of waste for disposal to and from the UK. However, there is no restriction on movement of waste between parts of the UK. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has no powers to control the origin of waste deposited at a landfill site, this is a commercial matter for a landfill operator, as long as the site is operated in compliance with the waste management licence.

Waste Management

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any importation of putrescible waste would have on its National Waste Strategy.

Ross Finnie: The National Waste Strategy provides a policy framework for dealing with Scotland's waste. One aspect of the strategy is the "proximity principle" that waste should be treated or disposed of as near as possible to the point where it arises, although this has to be balanced against other issues such as cost and availability of suitable facilities. The importation of waste into Scotland is therefore neither banned nor encouraged in the strategy.

  The Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations prohibit imports and exports of waste between member states for disposal. However, there is no restriction on movement of waste between parts of a member state and this is normally a commercial matter.

Waste Management

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether producers are meeting their recovery and recycling obligations under Schedule II of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the appropriate agency under the packaging waste regulations (the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or the Environment Agency). However, I understand that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency intends to publish information on compliance rates in due course as part of its next annual monitoring strategy for the packaging recovery scheme.

Waste Management

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to help producers meet their recovery and recycling obligations under Schedule II of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.

Ross Finnie: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 allow a producer to join a compliance scheme which will meet the producer's recovery and recycling obligations on its behalf.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Environment Agency have produced guidance on various aspects of the regulations, including statutory guidance on evidence of compliance. The accreditation system established in accordance with the guidance helps producers and compliance schemes to demonstrate compliance by obtaining Packaging Waste Recovery Notes from agency-accredited reprocessors.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also provided a range of training courses on various aspects of the regulations for producers and compliance scheme members.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any former employees of (a) West of Scotland Water and (b) East of Scotland Water have been employed by Stirling Water in the last 18 months and whether any such employees have complied with those terms of their civil service contract which may affect their subsequent actions.

Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action West of Scotland Water will take to ameliorate the impact of noise on recreational users of the Milngavie reservoir during construction and after construction of the water treatment plant.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22386 on 8 February 2002, and specifically to pages 2-20 to 2-21 of the Environmental Statement, which is available for inspection at the offices of East Dunbartonshire Council and West of Scotland Water.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the dimensions are of the proposed new Milngavie water treatment plant.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:

  This information is contained within the planning application submission to East Dunbartonshire Council. The overall dimensions for the water treatment works are as follows:

  The total length along the back of the building: 210 meters

  The total length along the front of the building: 243 meters

  The general width at the filter block: 44 meters.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs are of providing treated water from (a) Loch Katrine and (b) Loch Lomond per megalitre of water treated.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:

  These costs are not comparable, as the water supplied from each of the lochs is not treated to the same standards.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental regulation and approval processes apply to the extraction of water for drinking water purposes from (a) Loch Lomond and (b) Loch Katrine.

Ross Finnie: The abstraction of water for public water supplies, from these sources, is governed by the following legislation:

  1. Glasgow Corporation Consolidation (Water, Transport and Markets) Order 1964. This act specifies conditions and compensation flows.

  2. The Glasgow Corporation Water Order 1968. This act reduces the compensation flow from Loch Arklet.

  3. The Loch Lomond Water Board Order 1966.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22085 by Ross Finnie on 4 February 2002, in relation to the Community Forum, (a) who its members are and how they were selected, (b) how often the forum will meet, (c) what its remit is and (d) what commitment West of Scotland Water has made to addressing the matters raised by the forum's members.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:

  (a) West of Scotland Water has set up the Community Forum to promote understanding of the project during the construction phase through the community councils, local groups and to the wider public. It was established as a result of proposals at the public meetings held on 29 and 30 August 2001. The forum comprises representatives of the local community councils and interest groups, together with Katrine Water Project personnel with the composition as follows:

  1 representative from Baldernock Amenity Society;

  1 representative from Baldernock Community Council;

  1 representative from Friends of Milngavie Reservoir;

  2 representatives from Milngavie Community Council;

  1 representative from Milngavie Civic Trust;

  1 representative from Mugdock Association, and

  1 representative from Strathblane Community Council.

  There are four representatives from Katrine Water Project involving:

  1 representative from West of Scotland Water (Chair);

  2 representatives from Stirling Water, and

  1 representative from West of Scotland Water Community Relations Unit (minute secretary).

  (b) The Community Forum meets every two months.

  (c) At the inaugural meeting, the Community Forum agreed the Terms of Reference as well as accepting a list of recipients for the approved minutes (refer to Appendix 1 and 2).

  (d) West of Scotland Water is committed to the objectives of the forum and the authority has also undertaken to address community concerns wherever possible. The Community Forum will consider how best to communicate project implementation issues to the wider public. With West of Scotland Water committed to the continual improvement of customer relations, appropriate resources will be put in place to assist the forum. West of Scotland Water and the Katrine Water Project have undertaken to take practicable steps to minimise the disruption to the local community during construction.

  Appendix 1

  KATRINE WATER PROJECT

  COMMUNITY FORUM

  TERMS OF REFERENCE

  General

  West of Scotland Water (WoSW) will organise a Community Forum (CF) for the Katrine Water Project (KWP).

  The CF will comprise representatives of WoSW, the KWP team and representatives from local organisations Milngavie Community Council, Milngavie Civic Trust, Baldernock Community Council, Strathblane Community Council, Baldernock Amenity Society, Mugdock Association and Friends of Milngavie Reservoir.

  It is expected that all representatives will liaise with their respective organisations in a timely manner.

  Other attendees, as required, can be invited to specific meetings by agreement and at the discretion of the CF.

  The CF will run from the date of the first and inaugural meeting to twelve months after the completion of construction.

  The frequency of meetings and venue will be determined and agreed by the CF.

  WoSW will provide meeting facilities for the CF.

  WoSW will chair the CF and will provide a minutes secretary. Draft Minutes will be provided to all attendees and organisations represented within seven days of a meeting. Additional distribution of minutes will be agreed by the CF.

  WoSW will give a minimum of three weeks notice for meetings and will issue meeting documentation no less than seven days prior to a meeting.

  The agenda for meetings is : Agenda

  Apologies for Absence

  Minutes of previous Meeting

  Matters Arising

  Report from the Contractor

  Community Feedback

  Construction Programme

  Community Feedback

  Community Health & Safety

  Construction Health & Safety

  Agreed Actions

  Any Other Competent Business

  Date & Venue of next Meeting

  The minutes secretary should be notified of substitute representatives at least 24 hours before a meeting and be notified of proposed items for inclusion on the agenda no less than 14 days prior to a meeting.

  The Community Forum provides an opportunity for close co-operation between all participating organisations whilst acknowledging the independence of each organisation represented to act according to its own constitution and remit.

  Objectives

  The objectives of the Community Forum are

  to allow close co-operation between the organisations represented

  to promote open communication

  to promote an understanding of community concerns regarding construction, and to assess Contractor's compliance with Planning Approval conditions

  to promote an understanding of construction issues and requirements

  to provide information on the project programme

  to provide information on the programme of community events

  to provide an opportunity for community and project team feedback

  to provide an opportunity to help sustain Health and Safety at the project interfaces with the community and help sustain a safe local environment

  Appendix 2

  List of Recipients for Approved Community Forum Minutes

  


Baldernock Amenity Society
Baldernock Community Council
Friends of Milngavie Reservoir
Milngavie Community Council




Milngavie Civic Trust




Mugdock Residents Association




Strathblane Community Council




Katrine Water Project Team




Sylvia Jackson MSP
Brian Fitzpatrick MSP
Annabel Goldie MSP
Fiona McLeod MSP
Des McNulty MSP
Tony Worthington MP




Cllr Stephen Baillie
Cllr Eric M Gotts
Cllr Fiona Risk
Cllr Billy Hendry
Cllr Keith Moody
Cllr Catherine Orgon




Cllr Julia Southcott




Cllr Una Walker




Milngavie Public Library




Strathblane Public Library




Bearsden Public Library

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what due diligence tests were carried out by West of Scotland Water before any decisions were made concerning the tendering process for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:

  I refer you to the answers given to questions S1W-22821 (on 20 February 2002), S1W-22907 (on 22 February 2002), S1W-23119 (on 5 March 2002) and to my reply to his letter of 15 November 2001. The procurement process was undertaken in accordance with EU procurement requirements. In addition, the whole process was modelled on similar tendering routes for major works of comparable cost and scale elsewhere in the water industry. EC Harris, an internationally renowned Capital Project and Facilities Consultancy, was employed by West of Scotland Water at the inception of the tendering process to advise and oversee all stages of this procedure.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the current estimates are of any losses to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body following the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, giving a detailed breakdown of any such estimates.

Sir David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that at this point in time, there are no identified losses. The additional costs to the project arising from the insolvency of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, are currently estimated as £3.85 million. The various elements of the MSP cladding are presently out to re-tender therefore it is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of this figure.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer which companies awarded contracts for the new Parliament Building at Holyrood, other than Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, (a) had no assets other than £2 share capital, (b) had never traded in the UK and (c) did not produce a performance bond.

Sir David Steel: None.